Six-Week Quarantine Ordered for Cruise Ship Passengers Exposed to Deadly Hantavirus

Passengers from the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius will face a 42-day quarantine after an outbreak of the deadly hantavirus was confirmed on board, Spain’s health minister announced Monday. The measure matches the virus’s incubation period, during which symptoms may still emerge.

Minister Mónica García told reporters that health workers are closely monitoring everyone who disembarked from the vessel at Tenerife. “The incubation period is 42 days. Symptoms can appear during this time, so we are keeping people in quarantine as epidemiology dictates,” she said.

The outbreak struck the MV Hondius while it was sailing from Argentina toward Cape Verde. The World Health Organization has confirmed seven infections, with three fatalities. Spanish health officials initially treated all passengers as close contacts, applying heightened precautions as if each were a potential case.

Disembarkation began after epidemiological checks cleared the ship for phased repatriation. Passengers are being released in stages, depending on the availability of flights to their home countries.

The MV Hondius diverted to the Canary Islands after stopping in Cape Verde, where those showing symptoms were evacuated. Once all passengers and part of the crew have left, the ship will sail to the Netherlands for a full decontamination.